Happy birthdays and baby showers are through the roof this month, and there’s a reason.
August is one of the most common months for birthdays. As many new parents know, those first months can be the most rewarding and difficult months in existence. Time with baby is special; however, there are many real responsibilities that come with the little one. When it comes to childcare there are a myriad of opinions. If a parent has the ability and desire to stay home with their child during those first few months then that is a blessing; however, some parents are unable to take maternity or paternity leave (especially since, according to Forbes, the U.S. ranks last among developed countries with its paid maternity leave); some want to focus on their careers; some have the ability to hire childcare or live close to families.
Linked sat down with Girma Moaning of Play Street Childcare to discuss different childcare options and ways Play Street works with local parents to help them when that little bundle of joy arrives.
Talk to us about why, for some families, outsourced childcare is crucial?
There are many families who do not have a nanny, babysitter, or family members on-demand who can provide childcare whenever the need arises. Even families who have a regular routine for childcare may not realize they will need services until something happens to their Plan No. 1 that suddenly calls for Plan No. 2. For example, it is easy to imagine an important event, doctor’s appointment, last-minute job interview or medical emergency, where the regular babysitter or family member is suddenly unavailable, and a family is scrambling for childcare.
Play Street provides the opportunity to develop important social and cognitive skills that come when children get to interact with other children. We provide a variety of activities that help kids interact with each other to learn new skills, while getting their energy out and having fun! Social interactions and skill-building are important for all kids, and we do our best to center our activities around the kids that are there at any given time. That means we have a variety of games, crafts, challenges, and stories centered around a theme each day, and love to include each child who comes in, regardless of the length of their stay.
What are ways Play Street sets itself apart from other childcare facilities?
We are not a traditional childcare facility that only provides childcare for limited hours during the week. Play Street is a great place to bring your kids when you want to make plans for a date night, doctor appointments, running errands or need childcare in the evenings or on Saturdays, when traditional facilities are closed.
The best part for our drop-in childcare center, that sets us apart from other facilities, is that you only pay for the childcare you need! That means, if you only need childcare for three to six hours a week, while you go to appointments or a job interview, that is all you have to pay for, with no future obligations.
What is some advice you have for new moms and dads?
It is okay to have some child-free time. We know that you don’t want to miss a single thing your child does, but sometimes the need to recharge arises—whether that need is going shopping by yourself, watching a movie, or catching up on your favorite show. We love it when parents bring their kids in while they get their hair done, or get a manicure and pedicure and come back relaxed and refreshed. Meanwhile, the children have had the opportunity to get their energy out in our large play area while engaging in valuable social interactions and letting their creativity flow with our themed crafts and games for the day.
What do you believe is important when it comes to running a successful childcare establishment?
Communication is one of the keys to providing the best care experience for your children. We want to hear parents’ concerns when they drop off their children, whether it is related to food allergies, needs for bathroom breaks every 30 minutes, physical abilities or events like severe weather that may cause them anxiety. We make sure that at the end of your visit we provide you with a summary of what your child ate, when their last diaper change or potty time was, as needed and what activities they did. At the end of a child’s visit we love to hear about what they enjoyed doing and what made their visit fun and memorable for them!